Covering device



Oct. 23, 1951 G. HERTz 2,572,722

COVERING DEVICE Filed Feb. 26, 1946 i mmvron.

Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COVERDTG DEVICE George Hertz, Washington, D. C.

Application February 26, 1946, Serial No. 650,198

(o1. 21a-79) l Claims. l.

The present invention relates to a covering and more particularly to a exible covering for attachment to the tread and riser of a step.

An object of the invention is to provide a covering including a body portion having means associated with the underside thereof to removably receive a padded element.

A further object is to provide a flexible stair covering for the tread and riser of a step, so constructed that the said covering may be folded at any desired point along its widthwise edges to vary the size of the riser portion of the covering relative to the tread portion thereof.

Still another object is to provide a exible covering for the tread and riser of a step, and having stiifening means for a portion of the edges of said flexible covering to provide a flexible area of substantial width to permit the width of riser portion of the covering or the width of the tread portion of the covering to be selectively varied.

Yet another object is to provide a flexible covering for attachment to the tread and riser of a step having two oppositely disposed pockets on the underside of the covering, each adapted to removably receive a padded element; with one of said pockets underlying the riser portion of the covering and the other pocket underlying the tread portion of the covering; and wherein the padded element can be interchanged from the tread pocket to the riser pocket, and the more or less worn tread portion of the covering can be made the riser portion and the unworn riser portion becomes the tread portion.

Another object of this invention is to provide astair covering having continuous variable riser and tread portions which can be tted to stairs of various dimensions without cutting or other alteration.

This invention generally embraces the features of providing means for reversing the relative relationship of the tread and riser portions -of a stair covering and also the combination of said tread-riser variable means with means for changing the width of the riser portion of the stair covering with reference to the width of the tread portion thereof.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description thereof, and from the claimsappended thereto.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l is a perspective view showing the stair covering embodying the features of the invention as attached to the tread and riser of a step,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the stair covering with parts broken away to show a padded element fitted into a pocket on the underside of the covering,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Figure 2 inthe direction of the arrows,

Figure 4 isa sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 5 is a sectional detail showing the stair covering attached to a step having one size of tread,

Figure 6 is a View similar to that in Figure 5, but having the stair covering attached to a step having a tread of a different width, and

Figure 7 is a plan view of the padded insert element. l

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral III generally indicates a covering element, as for example, a stair covering. The covering I0 is provided with a fabric' portion II, and stiffening rods I2 and I3 secured to the lengthwise edges of the covering II, and partially extending along the widthwise edge of said covering I I, to provide a flexible area I4, of substantial width between the portions I5 and I6 of the stiffening elements I2 and I3 respectively, which portions I5 and I6 extend along the widthwise edges of covering I0, and terminate substantially short of each other to provide a flexible area I4 within which the said covering IIJ may be folded at any desired point.

The stiffening elements I2 and I3 are preferably brass elements which are clamped to the marginal edges of the exible fabric II, and are each preferably identical in shape and size, and with each provided with a plurality of spaced apart openings I'I and I8 respectively, adapted to receive nails or the like.

For convenience of illustration, the .flexible fabric I I, as is best shown in Figure 1, is provided with a riser portion-I9, adapted to be secured to the riser 20 of a step, by means of inserting screws, nails, or the like, through the apertures I'I, disposed in the stiffening element I2. Likewise, there is provided a tread portion 2I, of the fabric II, which is secured to the tread 22 of a step by means of screws, nails or the like.

On the underside of the tread portion 2I, of the fabric covering I I, there is provided a pocket 23, which is secured to the underside of the fabric II in any suitable manneras by elements I2, I3, I5 and I6. A padded element or insert 24 is removably secured in said pocket 23, to provide a cushion for the treadportion l2|, of the fabric -I I.

On the underside of the riser portion of the fabric portion II, there is provided a second pocket 25, which is secured to the underside of the fabric I I in any suitable manner.

If desired, holding clamps or the like can be substituted for the pockets 23 and 25 respectively. The holding means need only be adaptable to removably receive the padded insert 24.

The primary feature of this invention presides in the reversability of the tread portion 2|, with the riser portion I9, upon excess wearing of said tread portion 2I, due to usage. When it is desired to interchange the riser portion I9 with the tread portion 2I, the fastening elements are removed from the aperturesrl 'I and I8, the padded insert 24 is removed from pocket 23, and inserted into pocket 25, the covering II, is turned about, and What was the tread portion 2 I, now becomes thevriserrportion I9, and what was the riser portion l9, ,now becomes the tread portion 2l, to thus present an unworn fabric covering on the tread of the step.

It is to be noted that the relative widths of the tread portion 2| and the riser portion I9 may b e varied, as a substantially flexible area of bend is providedvat I4. Figures and 6 illustrate the attachment of the adjustable `and reversibley stair cushion I0, to steps having different size treads 22-a and 22-b, respectively.

In order to present an attractive appearance, it is preferred to employ overcast serging binding, along the exible area I4, of the fabric II, preferably' of the same color as the brass frames or stiifening elements I2 and I3, respectively. It

is preferred to tack the edges of the flexible area I4 to the tread of the step 22.

While'I have shown the stiiening elements I2 and I3, as being identical in structure, yet it is possible to have said elements I2 and I3 dissimilar in structure. Also, while it is preferred to use metal in the stiiening elements, I may also employ wood, plastics or the like.

While it is preferred that the portions I5 and I6 of the stiffeningV elements I2 and I3 respectively extend only a short distance along the widthwise edges of the fabric II, it is within the scope of the presentinventionto either eliminate the portions. I5 and I3 altogether, or bring the terminal edges thereof moreclosely together and to reduce the width of the fiexible area I4. However, it should be borne in mind that if the fabric Il isto beadjustable for various-sized risers and treads, the width of the flexible area I4 should be rather substantial.

If the feature of adjustability. is not. of importance, and the reversible feature is desired, the iiexible area I4 of the fabric II, may .be very small, or saidY exible area can be eliminated altogether. In this instance, the fabric II may be made of any desiredmaterial, such as linoleum, or the like.. In. other Words, unless' the adjustability feature of the stair covering` isdesired, any; non-flexible mater-ial may also be em'- ployed asa substitutefor the relatively iiexible fabric II. The feature of exchangingY the pad from pocket 23 to pocket 25, to reverse the-cushion portion of the covering, proceeds as explained hereintofor.

It is obvious thatvarious modifications of the present invention will be apparentto those skilled in the ar-t without departing'Y from the spirit of this invention, and it istherefore desired to be limited only to the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim 1. A stair covering device comprising, a flexible covering adapted to overlie the tread and project upon the riser of a step and having a tread portion and riser portion, a stiffening element extending along the lengthwise edge of said covering and along a portion of the width- Wise edges thereof, a second identical stiiening' element oppositely disposed from said nrs-t mentioned stiffening element and extending along the lengthwise edge of said covering and along.

a portion of the widthwise edges thereof to terminate short of the widthwise portions of the oppositely disposed rst mentioned stiifening element to provide a exible area of substantial widthY therebetween within which the said covering may be folded at any desired point to vary the size of the riser portion of the covering relative to the treadportion thereof, said tread and riser portions being reversible, a pocket disposed on the underside vof said covering underlying `and extending along substantially the full ,length of the forward edge ofthe tread portion thereof and attached thereto, said pocket having side edges extending rearwardly from said front edge and along the side edges ofthe tread portion K and attached thereto and having a free rear edge, a second pocket having substantially the same relation to the riser portion as thei'lrst pocket has to the tread portion, .and a padded element disposed within the. first pocket and removable therefrom and insertable said second pocket.

2. A stair covering device Afor attachmentV to the tread and riser of a step, comprising a, flexible covering having a tread portion and a riser portion, a stiifening element extending,V along the lengthwise edge of said covering and along, a por.- tion of the widthwise edges thereof, a second identical stiffeningV element oppositely disposed from said first mentioned stiffening element and extending along the lengthwise edge of said covering andalong a portion of the widthwise edges thereof to. terminate shortof the widthwise portions of the oppositely disposed rst mentioned stiifening element to provide a flexible area of substantial width therebetween within ywhich the said covering may be .folded at. any desired point to vary the size of the riser portion ofthe covering. relative to the tread yportion thereof, a sheet of material having its frontiand. side. edges connected to the under face of said. tread portion by said first stiffening element` and having its rear edge free to provide a pocket, a second sheet of material having its rear and side edges connected to the under face of said riser portion by said second stiffening Velement and having its front edge free to provide a pocket, and a padded elementdisposed `within the pocket of the tread portion, said tread and riser portions being reversiblev so that said tread portion may be used as a riser portion and the -rst mentioned riser portion may be used as.. a tread portion and said paddedelement being removable fromthe pocket of the tread portion and insertable 'in theother pocket.

3. Astair covering device comprising, a 'exible covering adaptedto loverlie the tread. and projectmp on the riser 0f a step-and having a treadportion and a riser portion, a stiffening element extending. along thelengthwise edge vof said covering and along a portion of the widthwise edges thereof, a second stiifening element oppositely disposed from said rst mentioned stiffeni'ng element and extending along the other lengthwise edgev of said covering and along a, portion'of the widthwise edges thereof to terminate short of the widthwise portion of the oppositely disposed first mentioned stifening element to provide a flexible area of substantial width therebetween within which the said covering may be folded at any desired point to vary the size of the riser portion of the covering relative tothe tread portion thereof, a pocket for a padded element disposed on the underside of said covering underlying the tread portion thereof, a second pocket adapted to hold a padded element disposed on the underside of said covering underlying the riser portion thereof, a padded element removably disposed in one of said pockets.

4. A stair covering device comprising, a flexible covering adapted to overlie the tread and project upon the riser of a step and having a tread portion and a riser portion, a stiffening element extending along the lengthwise edge of said covering and along a portion of the widthwise edges thereof, a second stiffening element oppositely disposed from said first mentioned stiiening element and extending along the other lengthwise edge of said covering and along a portion of the widthwise edges thereof to terminate short of the widthwise portion of the oppositely disposed rst mentioned stiffening element to provide a flexible area of substantial width therebetween within which the said covering may be folded at any desired point to vary the size of the riser portion of the covering relative to the tread portion thereof, a pocket for a padded element disposed on the underside of `said covering and underlying the tread portion thereof, a second pocket similar to said rst mentioned pocket disposed on the underside of said covering underlying the riser portion thereof and adapted to hold said padded element.

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5. A stair covering device for attachment to the tread and riser of a step comprising, a flexible covering having -a tread portion and a riser portion;A stiiening means for a portion of the edges ofs'aid flexible covering to permit the said covering to be folded at. any desired point along the flexible portion of its widthwise edges to vary the s'ivze of the riser portion of the covering relative to the tread portion thereof, a pocket dis- -pose'dfon the underside of saidl covering con- .structed to removably receive a' padded element,

a' second pocket disposed on the underside of said covering opposite from said lfirst mentioned pocket, whereby the said removable padded ele- *in'ent `may be interchanged in said pockets to reverse the relative positions of the riser and tread vportions of the covering with reference to the step.

GEORGE HERTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES ,-BATENTS Number 

